Salt precipitation at surface of Great Salt Lake

The northern arm of the Great Salt Lake is saturated with salt. On this calm, hot day, evaporation was occurring at the surface and causing salts (probably NaCl) to precipitate in the surface film. The crystal plates were 4-8 cm long. When disturbed by the turbulence of our boat, they would break the surface film and sink to the bottom.

The pink color of the water is due to pigments in the Archaea, bacteria and Dunaliella that dominate this portion of the lake.